Events in Summary
- On March 23rd, Al-Shabaab breached the Halane AMISOM Base and Diplomatic Complex in Mogadishu, Somalia.
- A small Istishhadi cell (suicide bombers) breached Halane gate in a well-coordinated and targeted attack on security officers targeted.
- Halane complex houses US and UK Embassies and other diplomatic missions.
- Unconfirmed reports put the number of attackers at four.
- On March 23rd, Al-Shabaab mounted simultaneous suicide raids in the city of Beledweyne, about 300 km (185 miles) north of Mogadishu.
- Two bombings in Beledweyne left scores killed among them a parliamentary candidate and lawmaker identified as Amina Mohamed.
- The Al-Qaeda-linked armed Al-Shabaab said its fighters are behind the attacks on Halane military base and one on city of Beledweyne.
- In a statement late on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble said Wednesday’s killings were aimed at disrupting the elections that are underway.
Al-Shabaab has scaled up attacks from across the regions of Somalia, further complicating or almost disrupting the ongoing elections. The latest attacks have not only suggested of surge but showcases Al-Shabaab morphed capabilities to even strike on heavily fortified areas.
The well-coordinated istishhadi raids in Halane military complex and the other in the city of Beledweyne have left scores in fatality.
Al-Shabaab istishhadi cell breached into Halane military complex and then, other attackers forced their way through the gate and started shooting indiscriminately into the complex that houses peacekeeping troops from the African Union, UN and other international organisations and is near Mogadishu main airport.
The armed group’s Radio Andalus hurriedly in a broadcast that its fighters had attacked the Halane military base as the shooting inside the complex continued.
The total casualties feared to be even greater, and the attack will be the deadliest attack on Halane camp, one of the safest areas in Mogadishu. The Halane attack sparks widespread speculation and skepticism about how it was organized, as it targeted a heavily guarded military camp.
The leader of Somalia’s Hirshabelle region have so far confirmed that dozens of innocent people were killed Wednesday in attacks in the city of Beledweyne, including a member of the Somali parliament.
The Beledweyne attacks began when a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up at the local government headquarters. Later, the second suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden car into a crowd of people who had gathered to help those wounded in the first attack.
In an address aired by state TV, Hirshabelle region president Ali Gudlawe reported that 48 confirmed dead and 108 injured since Wednesday night as per information gathered. Gudlawe reported that this was the worst attack Beledweyne has seen saying it terrorized the entire town.
Somali leaders have so far sent messages of condolence to the families affected the latest attacks. Both Roble and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo condemned the twin attacks in Beledweyne, as well as the attack in Mogadishu saying the attacks were meant to disrupt Somalia’s elections and intimidate the Somali people and international partners.
Al-Shabaab which has so far promoted the multiple attacks in Mogadishu and Beledweyne through the group’s various media channels have finally issued the finally channel documenting on how the attacks took place.
The militant group through a statement boasted that their martyrdom brigades on Wednesday, March 23rd, successfully stormed Halane military complex in Mogadishu, a highly fortified (guarded) facility killing and injuring dozens of ‘invaders. The group has also claimed responsibility for Beledweyne terror attacks. The Al-Qaeda group which is known to exaggerate fatalities after conducting an attack reported that approximately 64 were killed in both Halane and Beledweyne attacks.
The latest spate of attacks confirms of our recent warnings and forecasts of Al-Shabaab sharpened capability and military strategy in planning and orchestrating successful operations. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), recently also noted that Al-Shabaab remains the “greatest threat” to Somalia, her neighbors and broadly on the continent.
